less than for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than for" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts comparing quantities or values, but it is better to clarify the comparison. Example: "The cost of the new model is less than for the previous version."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Admission after twilight will be $5 less than for day passes.

The New York Times

The leap that Ms. Munk took required faith, but the risk is less than for some.

The New York Times

And it should, ideally, be suited for a concerto no less than for a Lieder recital.

The Guardian - Books

The life expectancy for Indigenous Australians is 10 years less than for non-Indigenous Australians.

The Guardian - Music

"We expect nothing less than for them to be objective," she said.

The New York Times

This is slightly less than for other large annual parades or celebrations on the Ave.

The New Yorker

This is significantly less than for similar units in the neighborhood.

The New York Times

Tickets cost £45 ($88), less than for a top-flight football match.

The Economist

Finding and development costs are much less than for conventional oil".

The Economist

The amount and toxicity is orders of magnitude less than for fission.

The New York Times

The average life expectancy for Roma is ten to twelve years less than for non-Roma.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "less than for" with shorter alternative if length matters - in tables or figure labels, where you are expected to be more concise.

Common error

Avoid ambiguous comparisons by explicitly stating what is being compared to what. Simply saying "less than for" can sometimes leave the reader wondering what the 'for' refers to. Rephrase for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than for" functions as a comparative, indicating that one quantity, value, or degree is smaller or lower in relation to another. It is often used to establish a difference or inferiority.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less than for" is a common comparative expression used to indicate that one thing is smaller or lower in quantity, value, or degree compared to another. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI highlights the importance of clarity and recommends using alternatives like "smaller than that of" or rephrasing for increased specificity. It's most frequently found in news, scientific, and business contexts and can be enhanced by explicitly stating the items being compared to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller than that of

Replaces "for" with "that of" to explicitly compare with a noun or pronoun.

lower compared to

Uses "compared to" to emphasize the comparative aspect.

not as much as

Emphasizes the reduced quantity or degree.

to a lesser extent than

Formal alternative emphasizing the degree of difference.

less in comparison to

Highlights the act of comparing two things.

not quite as high as

Specifically targets situations involving quantities or measurements.

dwarfed by

Emphasizes a significant difference in size or amount.

pale in comparison to

Suggests the first item is weak or insignificant when compared to the second.

a fraction of

Implies the first item is a small portion of the second.

substantially below

Highlights a large difference between two values.

FAQs

How can I use "less than for" in a sentence?

The phrase "less than for" is used to compare quantities or values. For example, "The cost of the new model is "less than that of" the previous version."

What can I say instead of "less than for"?

You can use alternatives like "smaller than that of", "lower compared to", or "not as much as" depending on the context.

Is "less than for" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, some consider it less formal. It is generally acceptable but can often be improved for clarity by using alternatives such as ""less than that of"" or rephrasing the sentence.

What's the difference between "less than for" and "lower than for"?

While both express comparison, "lower than for" typically applies to measurable quantities or levels, while "less than for" is more general. Either one would be better to be replaced by alternatives like "smaller than that of" or "lower compared to".